Rabbit girl, lately
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| Yet still ate one of these this weekend. Via etsy |
It’s something that I had always heard about but never experienced firsthand. It was one of those phrases that people threw out, like ‘morning person’ or ‘good with kids’. I never actually believed it (or them).
Until now.
It’s a lifestyle change. It’s a conscious decision that you make not on a whim or because you ‘feel like it’ but because you are doing just that, making a decision. It’s a controversial topic and one that’s rehashed time and time again. Not everyone will support it, in fact it could be inconvenient and probably won’t make you the most popular person in the room. I’m talking about healthy eating.
Those of you who noticed and commented on my ‘Eat the Beat’ post last week simultaneously commended my healthier habits and made me giggle nonstop. I don’t deserve any laudatory comments or even the slightest commendation. To clarify, I’m not on a raw food diet.* I’m not on a gluten-free diet. I’m not on a sugar-free diet. I’m actually not on any diet at all. I’m making a lifestyle change.
I didn’t intend on making this change, actually, rather it fell into my lap along with the new job. You see, my office is located right next door (and I mean smack dab next door) to the giant, behemoth organic food seitan-monster Whole Foods. It’s unavoidable. And it’s also a proxy for the company cafeteria. I started out very simply passing up the burritos, quesadillas, sandwiches and hot meals and heading straight for the salad bar. Eating greens and other assorted types of veg, since I’ll be turning 30 this year. But then, it turned into eating vegetables, no meat and plenty of superfoods. Every day for lunch for the past month. I suppose that could be called forming a habit.
Heck yes I get hungry in the afternoons - I need to load up on protein. But when before, I’d go and snarf a bag of Cheezits or Sun Chips, now I’ll grab a mini snack bag of pistachios. Or an orange. I drink green tea in the afternoons now, a big change for this once four-espressos-a-day girl.
I’m not making this change for any other meal except for lunch. But it’s amazing what changing 50% of your daily food intake will do (yes, I’m still kind of bad and don’t eat breakfast). My weekends are a bit of a food free-for-all but still better than I’ve ever eaten in the past. Trust me, this type of change can happen. You don’t have to feel guilty about what you eat and actually feel good about it.
Enough of my food soapbox - and back to adding loads of sriracha to all my salads. For flavor.
*Heaven forbid I turn into one of those tired grey people Lauren mentioned
Oh, you sound a little defensive and I mean that in a "you shouldn't" way. All I can say is: good for you! If I had a Whole Foods right next door, I'd probably have more of the really healthy stuff you're having. It doesn't matter whether you are or are not on some diet, whether you're doing it deliberately or accidentally, and what others think. It makes you happy, it's good for you, and you like it - that's all that counts and all that matters! xo
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I made a huge lifestyle change a few years ago, I cut out smoking (my one true love after my husband) and drinking copious amounts of coffee. I didn't really do it to be healthy, I just caught the flu and it seemed like the perfect time to give up. I haven't looked back since... erm, well, that's not exactly true as I am partial to a cigar every now and then! :)
ReplyDeleteOh I admire you greatly for this. I think I lack the self discipline in order to succeed in this kind of endeavor, and that's not even factoring in my unfortunate tendency of resisting change of any kind. But! The changes you're making sound amazing - green tea over espressos? That's the kind of change I wish to implement into my life, but I think is unfeasible on campus (or maybe I'm just deluding myself). Anyways, I hope it is working out well for you! (:
ReplyDeleteX i x i a ❥ thisisxixia.com
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A HUGE Whole Foods store opened near me like a beacon calling a wandering ship at night = I have to go in every time I sail/drive nearby. Kudos to life choices that bring us happiness :)
ReplyDeleteit's happening to me, too. cutting out sugar, without being on a no-sugar diet. which automatically leads to less coffee, because coffee without sugar is just not the same. eating more fruit and veg. and I couldn't tell you why. I had these periods before. and my eating habits in between have been quite ok anyways. so it's not a big deal at all. but I hear you - it does make you feel different. keep going xxo
ReplyDeleteHaha I am doing this, too (but sometimes I cheat. Hehe) I hope you're not having problems with drinking tea instead of coffee? Because I did and it was hard. I always get headaches and I feel sleepy all the time. :(
ReplyDeleteSo lovely and cute your illustration!
ReplyDeleteGood for you (and your body), rooth! Where do you eat lunch--is there seating in the Whole Foods, or do you head back to the office? And do your co-workers call you rabbit girl???
ReplyDeleteYeah, Rooth!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, this is the best way to be. Of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that it's how I try to do things, as well. :)
Speaking of which, I just realize I'm out of green tea. Wretched luck.
Small changes makes great difference - that´s my experience too! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou go, girl! As the others wrote above, that's really cool that you're doing this. And yes...it's the small changes that usually affect us more, coz we can maintain them longer.
ReplyDeleteI really feel that sometimes the trick to healthy eating is convenience! You are incredibly lucky to have a Whole Foods in the nabe of your work. Healthy regimens seem to fall flat when you're on the go or too lazy to plan, but having such great options close at hand will make it all the more easy for you to take good care of yourself! Good for you, Ruth!
ReplyDeleteA Whole Foods acts as your proxy cafeteria? Is your company hiring? I think small changes are the best changes as they're manageable and long-lasting. I was going to try to cut out caffeine this year, but I just love my morning cup so much. I'm wondering, has the new way of eating made you feel better mentally or physically?
ReplyDeleteHa! You made me laugh (which turned into a hacking cough, but whatever). I love gray, but I don't see it looking good on you. Mark Bittman talks about being a vegetarian until 6pm each day and what a change it made in his life. Sounds like that's the track you're on, yes?
ReplyDeleteI LOVE hearing these stories! So inspiring. It's amazing how a few little changes can drastically affect how you feel.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, there's never any real need to deprive yourself. Sriracha definitely goes onto MANY of my meals. ;-)
I wish we had Whole Foods in Luxembourg! The closest ones are in the UK... You're so lucky to have access to their food. Happy healthy eating!
ReplyDeleteLUXESSED
small changes is how big changes are made. and even if it doesn't always end up that way small changes are still changes after all. i am now gluten free. since i was a child i would have this voice in my head that would warn me about eating "carbs;" i knew i would feel yucky after i did so. but it wasn't until the big GF movement that i realized i may actually have a problem with wheat/gluten. i haven't lost any weight, in fact i have gained weight but i guess that's what happens when you aren't malnourished any more. but i feel so much better! now i really rarely miss it at all. all that to say that making that small change has motivated me to try to incorporate other small changes, i am not there yet but i am thinking about it : ) it took me about 5 years of thinking of going GF to actually do it, but hopefully i won't wait so long for my next small change. if only i lived right next door to a whole foods!
ReplyDeleteHere's to the strength we need to stick to our new lifestyles LOL!
ReplyDeleteSnarf up a bag of Cheezits!! Haha..that's me when I'm trying to be "good" but then can't handle it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea...make a lifestyle change..not just a diet. That's what I'm going to try to do...seriously, I eat way too much chocolate.
Eating healthy is so easy... You have to take care of your body and if you do you'll see that somehow it ages much slower!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you'll be 30! I'm sure at some point I knew your age, but I must have forgotten. One thing I never forget now...sriracha! I'm a total convert now. I really admire your new lifestyle eating plan. I wish I worked near a Whole Foods (though maybe my bank account doesn't). Good luck with your quest!
ReplyDeleteI just saw this documentary, Hungry for Change two nights ago and my husband and I were drawn to it. We started being on salads the last two days, feeling good, occasionally throwing in lean meat. Though I have stopped purchasing packed chips, cookies etc for years and have turned to fruits and nuts instead to keep the hunger away, I am guilty for being addicted to diet soda. So my aim is to replace that with water every time I crave for one. The parties with all sweets and stuff don't help though.But I do believe in lifestyle change being more effective and becoming more conscious of what we eat.
ReplyDeleteGo you!! I've been eating horribly lately (and feeling it too), so this is good motivation to get back to cleaner eating
ReplyDeleteI bet you could put sriracha on your salad and it would be delicious. I'm sad I'm not supposed to eat it but sometimes I do and it's so spicy and delicious.
ReplyDeleteI actually hate Whole Foods but I eat all that healthy stuff anyway. It's good that it inspired you to eat better. :)